Profile of The Man from Earth

The mood of The Man from Earth is contemplative and sincere. The plot centers around hidden identities, psychological motives, and disorder. It is a drama and sci-fi movie. Stylistically, The Man from Earth is talky. In approach, it is fantastical and serious. It happens in contemporary times.

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Summary

At his farewell bash in a cabin in the remote woods, Professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith) makes a...
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At his farewell bash in a cabin in the remote woods, Professor John Oldman (David Lee Smith) makes a shocking confession to his fellow scholars: he is actually an immortal who has been living on earth for the past 14,000 years. So begins this thought-provoking sci-fi drama which follows his colleagues as they struggle to figure out whether Oldman is telling the truth or merely deranged. A long-running project of STAR TREK and TWILIGHT ZONE scribe Jerome Bixby, the film's screenplay was finally completed on his deathbed in 1998.
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Users Reviews

You love it or you hate it, watch the first twenty minutes and find out.

You love it or you hate it, watch the first twenty minutes and find out.

18.August.2014 |
by: Adam Birchall

10

Adam Birchall rated this title

All I can say about this movie is that a dialogue drive film MUST have good, if not great, actors, and also the actual dialogue has to be interesting, not this hogwash they tried stuff down our throats.

All I can say about this movie is that a dialogue drive film MUST have good, if not great, actors, and also the actual dialogue has to be interesting, not this hogwash they tried stuff down our throats.

01.August.2014 |
by: DarkComedies25

1

DarkComedies25 rated this title

Essentially a Play

This film has the look of a stage play. The concept is intriguing and overall this film kept my interest. A professor is retiring from his current position and friends throw him a farewell party. He imparts to them that he is immortal, and the...

This film has the look of a stage play. The concept is intriguing and overall this film kept my interest. A professor is retiring from his current position and friends throw him a farewell party. He imparts to them that he is immortal, and the time has come for him to move on. Then we have discussions and debates as the group of friends try to determine if he is kidding or not. Some very unnatural dialogue, stilted characters and one incredible coincidence make this more like an adult after school special than a movie. That being said, I enjoyed it as an intellectual exercise. Too many religion and world view issues brought into the picture for me to recommend this to anyone. Take your chances!

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14.July.2013 |
by: Scott

7

Scott rated this title

Maybe the worst movie I've ever seen

Predictable, terribly shot, and dull. Not to mention absurd. The "it doesn't have any visual effects!" argument doesn't really hold up, since the movie also doesn't have any shred of originality or artistic value.
If you like watching high school...

Predictable, terribly shot, and dull. Not to mention absurd. The "it doesn't have any visual effects!" argument doesn't really hold up, since the movie also doesn't have any shred of originality or artistic value.
If you like watching high school potheads say things like "YEAH BUT WHAT IF ______" over and over, this movie is for you. If you enjoy things like story, acting and cinematography (you know. movies.), this isn't for you.
Watch a movie like Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky if you want a slow, thoughtful film without visual effects.

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17.March.2013 |
by: xdwx

1

xdwx rated this title

All the sci-fi ever need.

Man from earth has no vfx. No exotic locations. The whole story evolves around in a living room. Sometimes, you feel low production value from the TV actors and poor lighting and sound.
However, all these negatives does not effect the whole...

Man from earth has no vfx. No exotic locations. The whole story evolves around in a living room. Sometimes, you feel low production value from the TV actors and poor lighting and sound.
However, all these negatives does not effect the whole aesthetics of the film. Marvelous script from late Jerome Bixby which simply suggest no amount of high budget $$$ and special effect can top the original story.
This is highly underrated film. This is certainly not the film for the michael bay style of audience.
Most audiences nowadays are brainwashed on such blasphemy of films. If you are one of those few that despises such, that of michael bay or any other of same kind, this film is for you.
10/10 in my book for the best sci-fi.

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08.December.2012 |
by: ehanbameh

10

ehanbameh rated this title

Sophmore-level speculation on matters of faith predominate in this dull collection of talking heads. Is it surprising that this pedestrian work should come from an individual who has achieved so much success in pop culture?

Sophmore-level speculation on matters of faith predominate in this dull collection of talking heads. Is it surprising that this pedestrian work should come from an individual who has achieved so much success in pop culture?

04.March.2011 |
by: Dale Williams

0

Dale Williams rated this title

An intriguing script somewhat spoiled by poor acting. If you can get past the B-movie talent & simply concentrate on the conversation you'll likely enjoy this.

An intriguing script somewhat spoiled by poor acting. If you can get past the B-movie talent & simply concentrate on the conversation you'll likely enjoy this.

20.January.2011 |
by: chrissnave

0

chrissnave rated this title

This movie has a really good idea, but the execution is pretty bad. The acting is atrocious, and it's fairly predictable. Having said that, the director did a good job of making an 87 minute movie set in one room.

This movie has a really good idea, but the execution is pretty bad. The acting is atrocious, and it's fairly predictable. Having said that, the director did a good job of making an 87 minute movie set in one room.

19.September.2010 |
by: JoBrad

0

JoBrad rated this title

Jerome Bixby worked on this film for almost forty years; finishing just before he passed away in 1998. The Man from Earth is his final work of a long successful career including writing for Twilight Zone and Star Trek.
I consider it a sleeper as it...

Jerome Bixby worked on this film for almost forty years; finishing just before he passed away in 1998. The Man from Earth is his final work of a long successful career including writing for Twilight Zone and Star Trek.
I consider it a sleeper as it is not widely known and when you start it you are somewhat skeptical the film will even be worth finishing. How wrong and pleasantly surprised was I, now considering it by far as my favorite sci-fi films of all time. The acting is exceptional and fits the setting and storyline perfectly. The movie takes place in one room and consists of a very interesting conversation. There are no flash backs, special effects, or anything Ã¢Â€Â“ just an engrossing conversation.
Professor John Oldman has decided to all of a sudden retire and move out of town. Without notice his colleges come to bid him farewell. There is a historian, anthropologist, archeologist, and a person of faith; certainly a well educated group covering many specialties. Even a biologist is among his friends. Everyone is baffled why he is leaving and tries to get him to divulge his reasons.
John asks What if a man, from the Upper Paleolithic survived until the present day?Ã¢Â€Â Everyone jumps into the conversation and the possibilities of how it could happen. Could a caveman be living today? WouldnÃ¢Â€Â™t he age? What would the person have seen and lived through? Where the customs and religions like we thought they were? Who did they meet? Considering the question and the group the conversation becomes emotional and heated at times with many surprising revelations.
It is an amazing and intelligent movie written with perfection. I was drawn into the story as my mind was going a 100 miles an hour thinking about the question; feeling as if I was part of the group wishing to offer my theory.
If you are a fan of sci-fi this is a need to see film that will blow you away.

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29.August.2010 |
by: Dain Binder

0

Dain Binder rated this title

It's a cool concept and a cool message but a trainwreck of a production. It's a play that has been put to film and that never works very well. The acting by the supporting cast is all bad and the directing is jarring.

It's a cool concept and a cool message but a trainwreck of a production. It's a play that has been put to film and that never works very well. The acting by the supporting cast is all bad and the directing is jarring.

17.September.2009 |
by: DSLAM101

0

DSLAM101 rated this title

The Man From Earth is a filmed play. It's a smart and has 'science fiction' themes in it. It all happens in one house but it doesn't feel confined. It plays with your head for 90 minutes and at the end you're rewarded. Or not. I don't know.

The Man From Earth is a filmed play. It's a smart and has 'science fiction' themes in it. It all happens in one house but it doesn't feel confined. It plays with your head for 90 minutes and at the end you're rewarded. Or not. I don't know.

08.August.2009 |
by: frenchguy

8

frenchguy rated this title

Ouch, this made my entire "love of movies" hurt as if I were passing a kidney stone. I knew this was trouble during the first two minutes. Actor John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox from Star Trek Enterprise) has absolutely NO direction whatsoever so he...

Ouch, this made my entire "love of movies" hurt as if I were passing a kidney stone. I knew this was trouble during the first two minutes. Actor John Billingsley (Dr. Phlox from Star Trek Enterprise) has absolutely NO direction whatsoever so he spends ten seconds carrying a picnic basket and spinning around like a top without purpose in the left corner of the screen. It couldn't be more distracting and obvious if he looked directly into the camera and mouthed to the director, "pssst, where am I supposed to be?" (This is on Watch Instantly and this takes place within the first 2 minutes, so check it out!) The entire rest of the movie centers around the title character who couldn't be more annoying, arrogant, flat and smarmy. Any time someone in the discussion group seemed to become uncomfortable, he changed his story from "this is fact" to "I'm just kidding" and back again. But that only happened a few hundred thousand boring times. Ellen Crawford's character had her religious faith tested. I've always liked Crawford in other parts, but due to gigantic absence of a director, she came off here as a hysterical idiot. She couldn't have chewed more scenery if she had swooned backward touching the back of her hand to her forehead, wailed about religion and complained about suddenly developing "the vapors." This stinky thing is bad enough that it is a prime candidate for Mystery Science Theater 3000. Invite some friends over and have a great time heckling your hearts out!

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23.June.2009 |
by: Regtrash

0

Regtrash rated this title

This film is an example of old-school, bare bones science fiction: no action, no special f/x, no offensive dialog or startling imagery, no storyline really, just a collection of ideas and "what if" questions that are explored through the...

This film is an example of old-school, bare bones science fiction: no action, no special f/x, no offensive dialog or startling imagery, no storyline really, just a collection of ideas and "what if" questions that are explored through the philosophical musings of the characters who present them. Movies don't get much lower budget than this. Its just one sparsely-decorated set, eight no-name (or almost no-name) actors, and no fancy camera-work to speak of. It has everything you'd expect from a Twilight Zone episode and less, which seems appropriate given the script and its author. At first, I was a little turned off by the weak production values and rather uninspired acting, but the strength of the script made up for it and held my attention throughout the films easily digestible running time. Some of the ideas the film poses will no doubt seem blasphemous to devout Christians (as one of the characters clearly illustrates), but no more so than the overblown Da Vinci Code. Personally, I found that part of the story to be just annoying - a cheap grab at some religious controversy. Thankfully, this movie flew in under the public's radar, so we don't have to endure any Da Vinci-esque hysteria because of it. As a film, Man from Earth is hardly worth grading. As a think-piece, however, it deserves at least a B.

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21.March.2009 |
by: coolerking

6

coolerking rated this title

This movie definitely does not fit into the movies that most of us watch. It lacks action, adventure, special effects, and big name stars. It more than makes up for all of that with a very intriguing story that makes you really think. If you want to...

This movie definitely does not fit into the movies that most of us watch. It lacks action, adventure, special effects, and big name stars. It more than makes up for all of that with a very intriguing story that makes you really think. If you want to watch a movie that makes you question many things that you solidly believe in, you should watch this film

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19.March.2009 |
by: Brent

10

Brent rated this title

Every once in a while, it pays to just sit back and enjoy a movie without mindless action and special effects. Man from Earth more then makes up for this with a great story exploring the possibility of a prehistoric man surviving until the present...

Every once in a while, it pays to just sit back and enjoy a movie without mindless action and special effects. Man from Earth more then makes up for this with a great story exploring the possibility of a prehistoric man surviving until the present time. It makes you think, question and maybe even believe. I would warn that it touches on some things that may offend devout Christians, so please watch with an open mind and remember this is entertainment so be entertained.